View-finder for cameras.



C. H. STOUT`I VIEW FINDERFOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZ?. 1917- Patented Apr. 2,1918` Figdl.,

y shaped piece UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. STOUT, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CROWN OPTICAL COMPANY, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

VIEW-FINDER FOR CAMERAS.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GHAnLEs H. S'roU'r, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in View- Finders for Cameras, of which the following is a speciiication.

The present invention relates to View finders for cameras, and an object thereof is to provide a simple and inexpensive construction which may be folded into compact form when not in use.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front view of the finder;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig.. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the lens frameg.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of another portion of the lens frame;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the spring which holds the lens against movement within the frame; and

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the base member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the lens which may be of rectangular form with one face concave and the other face plane, as is common in lenses of this type. The lens is inclosed within the frame which is, in this instance, formed of two membersone a straight piece and the other a piece of U-shaped formation. Both pieces are formed from sheet metal bent into channel form to provide grooves for receiving the edges of the lens. The U- has an upper side 2 and vertical sides 3 extending from opposite ends of the side 2. The straight piece 4 has a filler therein of greater length than the side iece 4 to project from opposite ends of the atter. The thickness or depth of the filler is less than that of the piece so that a groove is provided in which the lens 1 may lie. The projecting ends of the filler extend into the channels of the pieces 3, while the piece 4 lits snugly between the pieces 3, its ends abutting the edges of the side walls of the channel. To hold the piece 4 to the U- shaped piece, two screws 6 are provided which pass loosely through openings 7 in the sides 3 and engage threaded openings 8 in the ends of the iiller 5, the heads of the screws drawing the sides 3 to the ends oi' the filler 5.

With the end in view of supporting the lens frame, a base member is provided comprising a plate portion 9 having an upturned flange 10 at one end, formed in one piece with the plate 9 and connected to ears 11 which are extended from the plate 9 in proximity to the flange 10. These ears 11 have openings 12, the walls 7 of which serve as bearings and engage the heads of the screws 6 so as to pivotally support the lens frame on the base plate. Spring tongues 13 are struck up from the base p ate 9 and extend in parallel directions toward the iiange 10. The free ends of these tongues cooperate with the straight piece 4 of the lens frame and serve to hold said lens frame either in an upright position against the flange 10, or in a horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The base plate 9 may be held to any suitable supports by means of screws passed through the openings 14 in the base plate.

Owing to slight differences in the sizes and shapes of lenses, it is desirable to provide some means for taking up any looseness between the lens 1 and its frame, and to this end there is provided a device comprising a plurality of bolt members 15 connected together at their ends and adapted to be arranged within the U-shaped frame piece to coperate with one wall of the channel of the latter and with one side face of the lens. This device has a number of laterally-extending portions 16 for coperating with the edge of the lens in order to hold the device in proper position within the lens frame.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provideda lens frame which may be manufactured at small cost, and will be easy to assemble with the lenses therein. A device has been provided which will prevent any looseness between the lens and its frame. The base member on which the lens frame is mounted is of simple form and does not require any expensive operations.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. In a finder, a base member; a lens frame comprising a U-shaped piece forming three sides of the frame and grooved on its inner walls` a straight piece, forming the fourth side of the frame and provided with a channel, and a ller rigidly secured in said channel and projecting from opposite ends thereof into the grooves of the U-shaped piece, the filler being of a depth less than that of the channel to provide a lens groove; and pivot screws for pivoting the lens frame to the base member and projecting through the U-shaped piece 'into the filler.

2. In a inder, a grooved lens frame, a lens having its edges received within the grooves of the frame, and a device for holding the lens against movement in the frame having its edges received within the grooves 20 of the frame, and a device for holding the lens against movement in the frame comprlsmg a plurality of bowed members connected together at their ends and arranged within the grooves of the frame, said bowed 25 members having laterally-extending portlons engaging the edges of the lens and serving to hold the bowed members in position.

CHARLES H. STOUT. 

